Between them, the Dreaper men have trained more than 14 Irish Grand National winners.

Tomorrow, the family hope to notch up another victory at Fairyhouse.

Jim Dreaper told how his father, Tom, got into training horses, winning 10 Irish Grand National titles including seven in consecutive years. It was Tom who trained the legendary Arkle.

Jim, who is in his 60s, said: “He was a farmer who used to enjoy hunting, and hunting led then to point-to-point racing, and point-to-point racing led on to what we call proper racecourse racing. It was a gradual progression for him.”

When Tom retired in 1972, Jim continued the family tradition. He has won the race at Fairyhouse four times: “It was more taken for granted I suppose, we always knew it was going to happen. I’d have been around horses from a very early age."

Shone Dreaper with her father Jim

It comes as no surprise that Jim’s son Thomas, 30, also works at the family’s Greenogue Stables in Ashbourne, Co Meath.

“It was just the same as myself, it just happened, we sort of expected that’s what would happen,” said Jim.

“My three children are all passionate, and the two girls are very good riders but they have their own jobs.”

And while the dad-of-three isn’t ready to retire yet, he insisted that the Kilsallaghan yard is run as a collaboration with the family.

He said: “The trainer’s licence is in my name, but we just work here as a family. It doesn’t actually matter whose name is on the licence, we just work at it.”

Arkle racehorse trained Tom Dreaper Gold Cup 1964

Although the two horses he is putting forward for the Boylesports 2014 Irish Grand National are young at seven years old, Jim is confident that they have a good shot at the €250,000 prize.

Jim said: “Goonyella has plenty of experience, Los Amigos maybe not quite so much, but a race is a race.

“Just because it has a big name like the Irish Grand National doesn’t make any difference.”

He said the key to training horses was to allow them plenty of time.

He said: “From the time the horse begins training initially, in the younger years, let the horse tell you what he can do.

“Don’t rush it, let him tell you what he can do, and when he’s fully mature then either he can or he can’t.”